Sunday night Carlos Zambrano did what has only happened 26 other times in the history of Chicago baseball – he threw a no-hitter. I have been part of three no-no’s in my life as a player, once as a pitcher and the other two times I watched as my boy Elmo cut down 18-year-olds like newly planted sapling, but those couldn't compare to the excitement of Sunday. In Big-Z’s honor, here are the Top Ten Chicago No-hitters.
Before we begin. People in older days had sweet freaking names. Now you can begin.
Before we begin. People in older days had sweet freaking names. Now you can begin.
10. Wilson Alvarez
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/wilsonalvarez.gif
This game was essential to my development as a baseball fan because it’s the first no-hitter I actually remember. Alvarez became somewhat of a South Side hero, only to blow out his elbow and end up in the National League. To me it still is a special moment in Chicago sports history.
9. Burt Hooton
9. Burt Hooton
http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-1610644dt.jpg
This was the first of two no-no’s for the Cubs in 1972. Hooten had an interesting day, walking seven, including Don Money (awesome name) twice. He also struck out seven.
8. Milt Pappas
8. Milt Pappas
http://www.fansedge.com/Images/Product/33-93/33-93079-F.jpg
The second in the “year of the no-hitter,” Pappas dominated the Fathers of San Diego, striking out six and walking only one. Interesting enough, the Padres rostered the fathers of Derek Jeter, Jason Kendal, Frank Thomas, Stephen Colbert and Derrek Lee. That, or they had a bunch of players on the team with names of famous people now. Coincidently, Dave Roberts made his major league debut as well. Thanks to reader ananymous for remiding me of this:
7. Eddie Cicotte
He had a perfect game through the 1st 26 batters, and was up 2-2 on the 27th, when the ump called the next two pitches balls, blowing the perfect game.
The umpire was Bruce Froemming. Later Froemming would say he didn't realize it was a perfect game until he looked up at the scoreboard after the ball four call was made. What a jerkstore. Oh, and I am a moron as well for forgetting this.7. Eddie Cicotte
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/blacksox/cicotte.jpg
This was special for all players on this team because it came in 1917, the year the Sox won their second World Series. In 1919, Cicotte would accept money to throw the World Series in the infamous Black Sox scandal. He was pushed to accept the money after Charles Comiskey sat him instead of letting him get 30 wins and receive a $10,000 bonus. I guess the Sox were cheap from day one.
6. Carlos Zambrano
http://www.b96hits.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/carlos-zambrano.jpg
In the midst of a division race and coming off injury, Z came up big, hitting 99 on the gun, completely shutting down the Astros lineup. Simply put, it was HUGE.
5. Blue Moon Odom
6. Carlos Zambrano
http://www.b96hits.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/carlos-zambrano.jpg
5. Blue Moon Odom
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_noh2.shtml
This is on the list for one reason and one reason only – it’s awesome name Tuesday! Does it get any better than Blue Moon Odom? I. THINK. NOT. Blue didn’t have the greatest of games only lasting five innings, walking nine and giving up an unearned run. No need to worry, Blue, Francisco Barrios is here for the four inning save.
4. Ken Holtzman
4. Ken Holtzman
http://images.bleedcubbieblue.com/images/admin/cubholtzman.jpg
Holtzman threw no-no’s in 1969 and 1971, first cremating the Braves without striking out a soul, using a devastating hook known as the “diseased blanket.” A year later Holtzman blitzkrieged the Reds (too many historical references? Ahh, screw it).
3. Nixie Callahan
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2349893685_c0579a0f26.jpg?v=0
Nixie’s no-hitter in 1902 was both the first for the newly formed AL and for the White Stockings (in 1900 the South Side took over the Cubs original nickname for their team). I don’t really have a joke or the energy to look up any stats. But it was a first, two times over. Yeaaaa!!! Plus, his name sounds like something out of a John Huston film.
2. Larry Corcoran
2. Larry Corcoran
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nl/chicubs/CorcoranCHc.jpg
This White Stocking (of the Cubs White Stockings) threw three no-hitter between1880-1884. In his rookie year Corcoran started 60 games, completing 57 of them, good for a 43-14 record. WTF? He also pitched 536.1 innings that year. Oh and he only walked 99 guys. This guy was good, or something.
1. Charlie Robertson
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Charlie_Robertson
Number one on the list must be reserved for only the greatest game ever pitched in the history of Chicago, a 1922 perfect game. Robertson dominated the Ty Cobb-led Detroit Tigers with a bevy of devastating pitches. He even made Lu Blue see red with his dazzling (add pitch here). It’s 3 AM, good night.
16 comments:
How in the hell is Mark Buehrle not on this list?
You are officially dead to me.
you're missing out on an important part of the Milt Pappas no-hitter: He had a perfect game through the 1st 26 batters, and was up 2-2 on the 27th, when the ump called the next two pitches balls, blowing the perfect game.
Nowadays, the umps would open that strike zone up a bit, especially when a perfect game was on the line.
Anonymous, you are completely correct. I can't believe I let that slip.
Matt, Buehrle's no-no came in a season where the Sox lost like 90 games. There was no real historic or playoff implications
Um, you chose to pick Wilson Alvarez because of your "priceless childhood memories" instead of a pitcher that played a crucial role in bringing the first World Series to this city since 1917?
Damn your childhood memories....consider yourself warned Martin, I will never forget this.
Who are the Sand Diego Fathers? Maybe you meant the San Diego fathers. But that's OK, you must have been full of excitement while writing this, I understand. F.Y.I. Jeter's dad is a Dr.
Anonymous 1 - you rock, good call.
Anonymous 2 - thank you once again for finding minute errors in like a 1,000 word blog posts. Your attention to trivial detail is both appreciated and encouraged. How DARE I misplace a “d.” I know I would LOVE to jump at the opportunity to comment on something so diminutive like that. Please continue to enlighten us with your incredible knowledge of the American language.
Thank you, Mark. These are the types of accounts we are hoping to get from you guys. Unfortunately, the Sox finished fourth in the division that year, making Horlen’s no-hitter maybe a little less “historical” (?) that the one’s one the list (minus 10 that’s solely for me). However, that is definitely deserving or recognition.
@ Matt – I believe you had a chance to write this post and decided you needed something as unnecessary as sleep instead. Life decisions, Matt, life decisions. So don’t complain when I leave off a relatively unhistorical no-no because you didn’t have the fortitude to write a Top Ten list at 10 PM.
Shit, Mark I effed up. I was trying to delete one of the comments because it got published twice and somehow both got tossed. If you can rewrite what you wrote in any form that would be great. I. AM. AN. IDIOT. Sorry, buddy.
I was, in no way, trying to be an ass, sir, when I commented earlier on this post. All that I was trying to say was I understood why you added an extra "d". That's it. But now, with the incredible knowledge of the American language that I hold, I need to add something extra.
"...minute errors in like a 1,000 word blog posts."- Martin
"posts" is plural and indicates that there are more than one. But this is only one post and the "s" in not needed.
I look forward to viewing your next post.
Dammit! You win again 8th grade English teacher...meh.
Zach,
Matt is absolutely right, Buehrle should definitely be on the list, mainly because he doesn't at all fit the profile of guys who have thrown no-hitters. For him to go three innings without giving up a hit is a pretty rare occurrence, much less a whole game. And plus, Buerhle's no-hitter came in only the 13th game of 2007, so of course there wouldn't be any historic or playoff implications that early in the season. That shouldn't be the criteria for judging the significance of no-hitters. Just my opinion, I'm probably wrong.
Zack, Danny just owned you, and furthermore, you are a boner... haha nice job
Buehrle's no hitter should be on the list.
He only walked one guy (Sammy Sosa) and if I remember correct he picked him off at first.
He saw the minimum amount of batters one could see.
You're an idiot.
The Sox have 16 no-no's in thier history. The only reason you want Mark's on the list is because you remember it. Everything on the list is somewhat historic or unique (ie combined no-no), minus #10, because that is my first no-no memory. I don't think calling me an idiot for not putting a rather vanilla no-no on the list is really warrented. Maybe if you did some research and looked through all of the no-hitter, you will see its really wasn't a big deal.
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